U.S. Department of Justice

Office of Justice Programs

Bureau of Justice Statistics

BJS

Special Report

NOVEMBER 2013 NCJ 243300

Intimate Partner Violence: Attributes 

of Victimization, 1993–2011

Shannan Catalano, Ph.D., BJS Statistician

HIGHLIGHTS

 From 1994 to 2011, the rate of serious intimate partner 

violence declined 72% for females and 64% for males.

 Nonfatal serious violence comprised more than a third of 

intimate partner violence against females and males during the 

most recent 10-year period (2002-11).

 An estimated two-thirds of female and male intimate 

partner victimizations involved a physical attack in 2002-11; 

the remaining third involved an attempted attack or verbal 

threat of harm.

 In 2002–11, 8% of female intimate partner victimizations 

involved some form of sexual violence during the incident.

 About 4% of females and 8% of males who were victimized 

by an intimate partner were shot at, stabbed, or hit with a 

weapon in 2002–11.

 In 2002–11, a larger percentage of male (27%) than female 

(18%) intimate partner victimizations involved a weapon. 

 In 2002–11, 5% of females and 19% of males were hit by an 

object their intimate partner held or threw at them.

 An estimated 50% of females victimized by an intimate partner, 

compared to 44% of males, suffered an injury in 2002–11.

 In 2002–11, a greater percentage of female (13%) than 

male (5%) intimate partner victimizations resulted in a 

serious injury such as internal injury, unconsciousness, or 

broken bones.

 An average of 18% of females and 11% of males were 

medically treated for injuries sustained during intimate 

partner violent victimizations in 2002–11.

This report examines nonfatal intimate partner 

violence, including rape or sexual assault, robbery, 

aggravated assault, and simple assault committed 

by the victim’s current or former spouse, boyfriend, or 

girlfriend. It focuses on the attributes of intimate partner 

victimization as measured by the type of crime, type of 

attack, whether the victim was threatened before the attack, 

weapon use by the offender, victim injury, and medical 

treatment received for injuries. The report presents these 

characteristics as measures of the seriousness or severity 

of the incident. For example, victimizations involving a 

physical injury are considered more severe than those 

without a physical injury. 

The rate of serious intimate partner violence (rape or sexual 

assault, robbery, and aggravated assault) against females 

declined by 72%, from 5.9 victimizations per 1,000 females 

age 12 or older in 1994 to 1.6 per 1,000 in 2011 (figure 1). 

The majority of the decline occurred from 1994 to 2001, 

when the rate of serious intimate partner violence against 

females declined by 59%. The rate fluctuated between 2 and 

3 victimizations per 1,000 from 2001 to 2011. Similar to the 

rate of serious intimate partner violence, the rate of simple 

assault against females by an intimate partner declined by 

70%, from 10.3 victimizations per 1,000 females in 1994 to 

3.1 per 1,000 in 2011. (See definition of intimate partner 

violence and crime types in Methodology.)

Figure 1

Rate of intimate partner violence, by victim’s sex, 1994–2011

Rate per 1,000 persons age 12 or older

0

2

4

6

8

10

12

Male simple assault

Male serious violence

Female simple assault

Female serious violence

'94 '95 '96 '97 '98 '99 '00 '01 '02 '03 '04 '05 '06*'07* '08 '09 '10 '11

Note: Estimates based on 2-year rolling averages beginning in 1993. Serious 

violent crime includes rape or sexual assault, robbery, and aggravated assault. 

Intimates include current or former spouses, boyfriends, and girlfriends. See 

appendix table 1 for populations, counts, and rates, and appendix table 2 for 

standard errors. 

*Due to methodological changes, use caution when comparing 2006 NCVS 

criminal vicitmization estimates to other years. See Criminal Victimization, 2007, 

NCJ 224390, BJS website, December 2008, for more information.

Source: Bureau of Justice Statistics, National Crime Victimization Survey, 

1993–2011.
INTIMATE PARTNER VIOLENCE: ATTRIBUTES OF VICTIMIZATION, 1993–2011 | NOVEMBER 2013 2

One dimension of severity that is not explored here is 

the repeated nature of these victimizations. A victim 

who is repeatedly assaulted either by threats or direct 

physical attacks may be exposed to more severe intimate 

partner violence than someone who experiences a single 

victimization, all else being equal. Estimates presented in 

this report do not address the potentially increased severity 

of repeated intimate partner violence.

The report presents trend estimates based on 2-year rolling 

averages centered on the most recent year. For example, 

estimates reported for 1994 represent the average estimates 

for 1993 and 1994. For ease of discussion, the report refers 

to all 2-year estimates by the most recent year. This method 

generally improves the reliability and stability of estimate 

comparisons over time. However, estimates based on 2 years 

of data are still insufficient to present reliable and stable 

comparisons for some subgroups. For example, the number 

of males seriously injured by intimate partner violence 

during a 2-year period is not large enough to produce 

reliable estimates. For this reason the report focuses on 

2-year trends for females only. Other tables in this report 

focus on a single 10-year aggregate period from 2002 

through 2011 for females and males. These approaches—

using rolling averages and aggregating years—increase 

the reliability and stability of estimates and facilitates 

comparisons of detailed victimization attributes.

To examine the attributes of intimate partner victimization, 

it is important to determine how measures of seriousness 

differ between intimate and nonintimate violence. To enable 

these comparisons, the aggregate tables also include estimates 

of nonintimate violent victimization. These comparisons are 

discussed in Comparing intimate and nonintimate violent 

victimization of females and males in this report.

The data in this report were drawn from the Bureau of Justice 

Statistics’ (BJS) National Crime Victimization Survey (NCVS), 

which collects information on nonfatal victimizations 

reported and not reported to the police against persons age 

12 or older from a nationally representative sample of U.S. 

households. For additional estimates not included in this 

report, see the NCVS Victimization Analysis Tool (NVAT) 

on the BJS website.

From 1994 to 2011, the rate of serious intimate partner 

violence against males declined by 64%

For males, the rate of serious intimate partner violence 

declined by 64%, from 1.1 victimizations per 1,000 in 1994 

to 0.4 per 1,000 in 2011. Similar to the pattern observed for 

females, the majority of this decline occurred from 1994 

to 2001. Rates of serious intimate partner violence against 

males declined by 71% from 1994 to 2001 and fluctuated 

between 0.4 and 1.0 victimizations per 1,000 through 2011. 

The rate of simple assault against males by an intimate 

partner decreased by 44% from 1994 to 2005, from 1.9 

victimizations per 1,000 males to 1.0 per 1,000, with no 

further change observed in the trend through 2010. The 

rate of simple assault against males by an intimate partner 

increased from 0.7 victimization per 1,000 males age 12 or 

older in 2010 to 1.1 victimizations per 1,000 in 2011.

In 2002–11, nonfatal serious violence comprised more 

than a third of intimate partner violence experienced 

by females and males

From 1994 to 2011, the percentage of serious intimate 

partner violence experienced by females fluctuated between 

28% to 42% (figure 2). On average during this period, 

serious intimate partner violence accounted for more than a 

third (34%) of intimate violence against females. Following a 

decline in the percentage of serious intimate partner violence 

against females between 1994 (36%) and 1996 (28%), no 

changes were observed through 2002 in the proportion of 

female intimate partner violence that was serious. After 

this period of stability, serious intimate violence increased 

briefly from 33% in 2002 to 42% in 2004. From 2005 to 2011, 

the percentage of serious intimate partner violence against 

females fluctuated between 28% and 36%.

Figure 2

Serious intimate partner violence against females, 

1994–2011

0

20

40

60

80

100

'94 '95 '96 '97 '98 '99 '00 '01 '02 '03 '04 '05 '06*'07* '08 '09 '10 '11

Percent 

Note: Estimates based on 2-year rolling averages beginning in 1993. Serious violent 

crime includes rape or sexual assault, robbery, and aggravated assault. Intimates 

include current or former spouses, boyfriends, and girlfriends. See appendix table 3 

for counts and percentages, and appendix table 4 for standard errors. 

*Due to methodological changes, use caution when comparing 2006 NCVS 

criminal victimization estimates to other years. See Criminal Victimization, 2007, 

NCJ 224390, BJS website, December 2008, for more information. 

Source: Bureau of Justice Statistics, National Crime Victimization Survey, 

1993–2011.
During the most recent 10-year period (2002–11), 

aggravated assault accounted for the largest percentage of 

serious intimate partner violence experienced by females 

(16%), while rape or sexual assault (10%) and robbery (9%) 

contributed a similar percentage (table 1).

Serious violent crime accounted for 39% of intimate 

partner violence committed against males. As for females, 

aggravated assault (22%) accounted for the largest 

percentage of serious intimate partner violence against 

males. However, 16% of intimate violence against males was 

comprised of robbery, while rape or sexual assault accounted 

for the smallest percentage of intimate partner violence 

experienced by males (about 1%).

A larger percentage of female than male homicide victims were killed by an 

intimate partner when the offender relationship was known

Although the majority of homicides recorded by the FBI’s 

Supplementary Homicide Report involved male victims, a larger 

percentage of females than males were murdered by an intimate 

partner when the offender relationship was known (table 2). 

Of the 3,032 homicide incidents involving females in 2010, 39% 

were committed by an intimate, 37% were committed by a 

nonintimate, and 24% by an unknown offender. During the same 

year, of the 10,878 homicide incidents involving males, 3% were 

committed by an intimate, 48% by a nonintimate, and 50% by an 

offender with an unknown relationship to the victim.

The classification of a homicide by victim-offender relationship 

is limited by what is known about the offender. Often the 

relationship between a victim and the offender is not known 

when an offender is not identified or apprehended during 

subsequent criminal investigations. From 1993 to 2010, the 

relationship between the victim and offender was not known or 

missing in 24% to 32% of homicide incidents involving female 

victims and 40% to 51% of homicide incidents involving male 

victims. Homicide is an important factor when examining the 

attributes of intimate partner violence. However, caution should 

be exercised when describing victim-offender relationships and 

homicide due to the limitations of missing data.

Table 2

Homicide, by victim’s sex and victim-offender relationship, 1993–2010

Female Male

Number of 

homicide 

incidentsa

Percent of homicides Number of 

homicide 

incidentsa

Percent of homicides

Total Intimateb Nonintimatec Unknown Total Intimateb Nonintimatec Unknown

1993 5,194 100% 29.8 41.3 28.9 18,272 100% 3.7 54.3 42.0

1994 4,668 100% 29.7 40.7 29.5 17,610 100% 3.8 54.0 42.2

1995 4,599 100% 28.1 39.7 32.1 15,873 100% 3.3 55.2 41.4

1996 4,154 100% 30.7 40.8 28.6 14,613 100% 3.3 56.6 40.1

1997 3,795 100% 30.9 40.1 29.0 13,522 100% 3.1 54.1 42.7

1998 3,908 100% 32.8 38.6 28.6 12,297 100% 3.9 54.3 41.8

1999 3,461 100% 33.5 39.7 26.8 11,221 100% 3.4 52.2 44.4

2000 3,514 100% 34.7 38.1 27.2 11,336 100% 3.5 49.0 47.4

2001 3,482 100% 33.3 38.4 28.3 11,751 100% 3.1 47.1 49.8

2002 3,455 100% 33.3 38.9 27.8 11,884 100% 2.9 48.7 48.4

2003 3,371 100% 34.1 38.3 27.5 12,184 100% 2.8 47.4 49.8

2004 3,277 100% 34.8 39.1 26.1 12,053 100% 3.0 47.4 49.6

2005 3,293 100% 35.3 38.8 25.9 12,561 100% 2.7 46.2 51.1

2006 3,337 100% 33.9 38.3 27.8 13,048 100% 2.6 47.5 49.9

2007 3,369 100% 35.1 38.1 26.7 12,865 100% 2.8 45.9 51.2

2008 3,282 100% 36.4 38.5 25.0 12,296 100% 2.7 47.5 49.8

2009 3,185 100% 36.6 38.2 25.2 11,314 100% 3.0 47.9 49.1

2010 3,032 100% 39.3 36.8 23.8 10,878 100% 2.8 47.5 49.7 aEstimates based on characteristics of the first victim only. The FBI’s Supplementary Homicide Reports provide information on the victim-offender relationship 

with the first recorded victim in the data. For the small percentage of incidents with multiple victims (approximately 5% per year), the victim-offender 

relationship for victims beyond the first is recorded as unknown. 

bIntimate includes former or current spouses, boyfriends, and girlfriends.

cNonintimate includes nonintimate family members, friends, acquaintances, and strangers.

Source: Bureau of Justice Statistics, based on data from FBI, Supplementary Homicide Reports, 1993–2010.

Table 1

Violent victimization, by victim’s sex and victim-offender 

relationship, 2002–2011

Female Male

Intimatea Nonintimateb Intimatea Nonintimateb

Total 100% 100% 100% 100%

Serious violent crime 34.6% 33.7% 39.0% 32.1%

Rape/sexual assault 9.6 8.3 1.2 0.9

Robbery 9.3 8.8 16.0 11.2

Aggravated assault 15.7 16.6 21.9 20.0

Simple assault 65.4% 66.3% 61.0% 67.9%

Average annual violent

 victimizations 805,700 2,336,830 173,960 3,365,420

Note: See appendix table 5 for standard errors. 

aIncludes former or current spouses, boyfriends, and girlfriends. 

bIncludes relatives, friends, neighbors, acquaintances, and strangers.

Source: Bureau of Justice Statistics, National Crime Victimization Survey, 2002–2011.
In 2002–11, about 4% of females and 8% of males 

victimized by an intimate partner were shot at, 

stabbed, or hit with a weapon

From 1994 to 2011, the percentage of female victimizations 

involving a physical attack by an intimate partner fluctuated 

between 60% and 72% (figure 3). The remainder of these 

victimizations involved an attempted attack or threat of 

harm by the offender (not shown in figure). The percentage 

of female intimate partner victimizations in which the 

offender threatened a victim before the attack fluctuated 

between 39% and 63%. 

The percentage of physical attacks and threats prior to the 

attack followed similar patterns of increase and decrease 

from 1994 to 1999. From 1999 to 2007, the percentage of 

physical attacks against female victims of intimate partner 

violence steadily increased from 62% to 72%, while threats 

prior to the attack against female victims of intimate partner 

violence fluctuated between 39% and 63%. From 2007 to 

2011, both physical attacks (down 16%) and threats of harm 

(down 30%) against female victims of intimate partner 

violence decreased.

During the most recent 10-year period (2002-11), about 

8% of female intimate partner victimizations included 

some form of sexual violence (table 3). In 4% of intimate 

partner victimizations against females, the victim was shot 

at, stabbed, or hit with a weapon. In approximately 5% of 

intimate partner violence against females, the victim was hit 

by an object that her intimate partner held or threw at her. 

Physical attacks involving hitting, slapping, or knocking the 

victim down accounted for the largest percentage of intimate 

partner violence against females (45%). 

For male intimate partner violence, in 8% of the victimizations 

the victim was shot at, stabbed, or hit with a weapon, while in 

19%, the victim was hit by an object that an intimate partner 

held or threw at him. The most common form of physical 

attack against male victims of intimate partner violence was 

being hit, slapped, or knocked down by the offender (43%). 

In approximately 31% of male intimate partner victimizations 

that involved a physical attack, the offender threatened the 

victim with harm prior to the attack.

Figure 3

Physical attacks and threats in intimate partner violence 

against females, 1994–2011

Percent 

0

20

40

60

80

100

Threateneda

Physically attacked

'07 '08 '09 '10 '11 b '06b '94 '95 '96 '97 '98 '99 '00 '01 '02 '03 '04 '05

Note: Estimates based on 2-year rolling averages beginning in 1993. Intimate 

partner violence includes rape or sexual assault, robbery, aggravated assault, 

and simple assault committed by current or former spouses, boyfriends, and 

girlfriends. See appendix table 6 for counts and percentages and appendix 

table 7 for standard errors. 

aVictims who were physically attacked were subsequently asked if the offender 

threatened them prior to the attack. 

bDue to methodological changes, use caution when comparing 2006 NCVS 

criminal victimization estimates to other years. See Criminal Victimization, 2007, 

NCJ 224390, BJS website, December 2008, for more information.

Source: Bureau of Justice Statistics, National Crime Victimization Survey, 

1993–2011.

Table 3

Type of physical attack in violent victimization, by victim’s sex and victim-offender relationship, 2002–2011

Female Male

Intimatea Nonintimateb Intimatea Nonintimateb

Victim was physically attacked 66.6% 40.3% 64.6% 40.1%

Offender threatened victim before attackingc 51.8% 33.6% 31.4% 39.4%

Type of attack

Sexual violence 8.2% 5.3% 0.9% ! 0.2%

Shot at, stabbed, or hit with weapon 3.8 1.6 8.2 2.9

Hit by object held in hand or thrown 5.4 4.3 19.3 4.5

Hit, slapped, or knocked down 44.6 21.1 43.3 25.7

Grabbed, held, tripped, jumped, or pushed 36.1 16.5 14 15.1

Other type of attack 6.1 2.4 6.3 2.8

Average annual violent victimizations 805,700 2,336,830 173,960 3,365,420

Note: Violent victimization includes rape, sexual assault, robbery, aggravated assault, and simple assault. Percentages for type of attack sum to more than the percentage 

of victims who were attacked because victims were able to select more than one response. Estimates include 3.4% to 9.7% missing data on whether the offender 

threatened the victim before attacking. See appendix table 8 for standard errors. 

aIncludes former or current spouses, boyfriends, and girlfriends. 

bIncludes relatives, friends, neighbors, acquaintances, and strangers.

cVictims who were physically attacked were subsequently asked if the offender threatened them prior to the attack.

! Interpret with caution; estimate based on 10 or fewer sample cases, or coefficient of variation is greater than 50%.

Source: Bureau of Justice Statistics, National Crime Victimization Survey, 2002–2011.
INTIMATE PARTNER VIOLENCE: ATTRIBUTES OF VICTIMIZATION, 1993–2011 | NOVEMBER 2013 5

In 2002–11, about 18% of female and 27% of male 

intimate partner violence victimizations involved an 

offender with a weapon

From 1994 to 2011, the percentage of weapon-related 

intimate partner violence against females fluctuated between 

13% and 25% (figure 4). The highest percentages were 

observed in 2003 and 2004, when approximately a quarter of 

females victimized by an intimate faced an offender armed 

with a weapon. In 2011, 18% of female intimate partner 

victimizations involved an offender with a weapon, similar 

to the percentage observed in 1994.

In 2002–11, about 5% of female intimate partner 

victimizations involved a firearm, 6% involved a knife, and 

7% involved some other type of weapon (e.g., broken bottle, 

cookware, or another household object) (table 4). In contrast 

to females, a weapon was present in a larger percentage 

(27%) of male intimate partner victimizations. When 

analyzed by weapon type, intimate partner victimizations 

against males involving an offender with a knife (11%) 

accounted for a slightly smaller percentage of violence than 

those with other types of weapons (15%). 

Figure 4

Presence of weapons in intimate partner violence against 

females, 1994–2011

0

20

40

60

80

100

'94 '95 '96 '97 '98 '99 '00 '01 '02 '03 '04 '05 '06*'07* '08 '09 '10 '11

Percent 

Note: Estimates based on 2-year rolling averages beginning in 1993. Intimate 

partner violence includes rape or sexual assault, robbery, aggravated assault, 

and simple assault committed by current or former spouses, boyfriends, and 

girlfriends. The weapon category also includes victimizations in which the 

respondent knew a weapon was present but did not know the type of weapon. 

See appendix table 9 for counts and percentages and appendix table 10 for 

standard errors. 

*Due to methodological changes, use caution when comparing 2006 NCVS 

criminal victimization estimates to other years. See Criminal Victimization, 2007, 

NCJ 224390, BJS website, December 2008, for more information. 

Source: Bureau of Justice Statistics, National Crime Victimization Survey, 

1993–2011.

Table 4

Presence of weapons, by victim's sex and victim-offender 

relationship, 2002–2011

Female Male 

Intimatea Nonintimateb Intimatea Nonintimateb

Total 100% 100% 100% 100%

No weapon 78.0% 72.7% 71.5% 67.6%

Any weapon 17.6% 20.0% 27.0% 24.4%

Firearm 4.7 6.6 0.8! 8.5

Knife 6.2 5.6 11.1 6.6

Other weaponc 6.7 7.7 15.1 9.3

Did not know if offender

 had weapon 4.3% 7.3% 1.6% ! 8.0%

Average annual

 violent victimizations 805,700 2,336,830 173,960 3,365,420

Note: Violent victimization includes rape or sexual assault, robbery, aggravated 

assault, and simple assault. See appendix table 11 for standard errors. 

! Interpret with caution. Estimate based on 10 or fewer sample cases or the 

coefficient of variation is greater than 50%.

aIncludes former or current spouses, boyfriends, and girlfriends. 

bIncludes relatives, friends, neighbors, acquaintances, and strangers.

cIncludes broken bottles, cookware, household objects, and unknown weapon 

types.

Source: Bureau of Justice Statistics, National Crime Victimization Survey, 

2002–2011.
INTIMATE PARTNER VIOLENCE: ATTRIBUTES OF VICTIMIZATION, 1993–2011 | NOVEMBER 2013 6

In 2002–11, a larger percentage of female (13%) than 

male (5%) intimate partner victimizations resulted in 

serious physical injury

From 1994 to 2011, the percentage of female intimate 

partner victimizations resulting in physical injury fluctuated 

between 42% and 59% (figure 5). Physical injuries suffered 

by female victims of intimate partner violence decreased 

from 56% in 1994 to 45% in 1996. From 1999 to 2006, the 

percentage of females physically injured during intimate 

partner victimization increased from 47% to a high of 59%. 

This period of increase was followed by a decrease, and in 

2011, about 42% of females victimized by an intimate were 

physically injured during the incident.

In 2002–11, 13% of female intimate partner victimizations 

resulted in serious physical injury (table 5). Internal injuries, 

unconsciousness, and broken bones accounted for about 

5%; gunshot and knife wounds accounted for 1%; and sexual 

violence accounted for 7%. Bruises, cuts, and other injuries 

accounted for 46% of female intimate partner violence. 

During the same period, 44% of male intimate partner 

victimizations resulted in a physical injury. About 5% of the 

victimizations resulted in serious physical injury. Gunshot 

and knife wounds accounted for 2% of serious injury against 

males. Bruises, cuts, and other injuries accounted for 41% of 

male intimate partner violence.

Figure 5

Physical injury in intimate partner violence against females, 

1994–2011

0

20

40

60

80

100

'94 '95 '96 '97 '98 '99 '00 '01 '02 '03 '04 '05 '06*'07* '08 '09 '10 '11

Percent 

Note: Estimates based on 2-year rolling averages beginning in 1993. Intimate 

partner violence includes rape or sexual assault, robbery, aggravated assault, 

and simple assault committed by current or former spouses, boyfriends, and 

girlfriends. Estimates include missing data on injuries ranging from 0.1% to 0.4%. 

See appendix table 12 for counts and percentages and appendix table 13 for 

standard errors. 

*Due to methodological changes, use caution when comparing 2006 NCVS 

criminal victimization estimates to other years. See Criminal Victimization, 2007, 

NCJ 224390, BJS website, December 2008, for more information.

Source: Bureau of Justice Statistics, National Crime Victimization Survey, 

1993–2011.

Table 5

Physical injury, by victim’s sex and victim-offender relationship, 2002–2011

Female Male

Intimatea Nonintimateb Intimatea Nonintimateb

Total 100% 100% 100% 100%

No injury 50.3% 76.0% 56.5% 78.4%

Any injury 49.7% 24.0% 43.5% 21.6%

Serious injury 13.0 5.0 5.4 3.9

Sexual violencec 6.6 2.8 0.7 ! 0.2

Gun shot, knife wounds 1.1 0.4 1.9 1.0

Internal injuries, unconciousness, broken bones 5.3 1.7 2.8 ! 2.7

Bruises, cuts, or other injuries 45.7 20.9 40.7 19.8

Average annual violent victimizations 805,700 2,336,830 173,960 3,365,420

Note: Violent victimization includes rape or sexual assault, robbery, aggravated assault, and simple assault. Percentages for type of injury sum to more than the 

percentage of victims injured because victims were able to select more than one response. Estimates include missing data ranging from 0.1% to 0.4% of injuries. See 

appendix table 14 for standard errors. 

! Interpret with caution. Estimate based on 10 or fewer sample cases or the coefficient of variation is greater than 50%.

aIncludes former or current spouses, boyfriends, or girlfriends. 

bIncludes relatives, friends, neighbors, acquaintances, and strangers.

cSexual violence injuries includes rape, attempted rape, and sexual assault injuries.

Source: Bureau of Justice Statistics, National Crime Victimization Survey, 2002–2011.
INTIMATE PARTNER VIOLENCE: ATTRIBUTES OF VICTIMIZATION, 1993–2011 | NOVEMBER 2013 7

In 2002–11, a larger percentage of female (18%) than 

male (11%) victims were treated for injuries sustained 

during intimate partner violence

After a brief decrease between 1994 and 1996, the percentage 

of female intimate partner victimizations in which the victim 

sought medical treatment was relatively stable from 1997 to 

2001, fluctuating from 18% to 21% (figure 6). In 2003, about 

27% of females victimized by an intimate partner received 

treatment for injuries. The percentage decreased to 13% 

from 2003 to 2009 and then increased to 18% in 2011. 

In 2002–11, an estimated 18% of females victimized by 

an intimate partner received medical treatment. A similar 

percentage of females victimized by an intimate partner 

were treated at the scene, the victim’s home, or the home of a 

neighbor or friend (8%) or in a formal hospital setting (8%) 

(table 6). Another 2% of females victimized by an intimate 

partner received treatment at a medical office, local clinic, or 

health unit. 

Compared to females, a smaller percentage (11%) of 

males victimized by an intimate partner received medical 

treatment. Of male intimate partner victimizations, 6% 

received treatment at the scene, the victim’s home, or the 

home of a neighbor or friend, and 4% were treated in a 

hospital setting. 

Figure 6

Medical treatment of female victims of intimate partner 

violence, 1994–2011

0

20

40

60

80

100

'94 '95 '96 '97 '98 '99 '00 '01 '02 '03 '04 '05 '06*'07* '08 '09 '10 '11

Percent 

Note: Estimates based on 2-year rolling averages beginning in 1993. Intimate 

partner violence includes rape or sexual assault, robbery, aggravated assault, 

and simple assault committed by current or former spouses, boyfriends, and 

girlfriends. See appendix table 15 for counts and percentages and appendix table 

16 for standard errors. 

*Due to methodological changes, use caution when comparing 2006 NCVS 

criminal victimization estimates to other years. See Criminal Victimization, 2007, 

NCJ 224390, BJS website, December 2008, for more information. 

Source: Bureau of Justice Statistics, National Crime Victimization Survey, 

1993–2011.

Table 6

Medical treatment, by victim's sex and victim-offender relationship, 2002–2011

Female Male 

Intimatea Nonintimateb Intimatea Nonintimateb

Total violent victimizations resulting in injury 49.7% 23.8% 43.5% 21.5%

No treatment 31.6% 14.0% 32.7% 12.0%

Any treatment 18.2% 9.8% 10.8% 9.6%

At scene, home, neighbor’s or friend's house 8.3 3.5 6.1 3.4

Medical office, clinic, or health unit 1.5 1.9 0.2 ! 1.1

Hospital setting 8.2 4.2 4.4 4.9

Another location 0.1 ! 0.2 0.1 ! 0.2

Average annual violent victimizations 805,700 2,336,830 173,960 3,365,420

Note: Violent victimization includes rape or sexual assault, robbery, aggravated assault, and simple assault. See appendix table 17 for standard errors.

 ! Interpret with caution. Estimate based on 10 or fewer sample cases or the coefficient of variation is greater than 50%.

aIncludes former or current spouses, boyfriends, and girlfriends. 

bIncludes relatives, friends, neighbors, acquaintances, and strangers.

Source: Bureau of Justice Statistics, National Crime Victimization Survey, 2002–2011.
INTIMATE PARTNER VIOLENCE: ATTRIBUTES OF VICTIMIZATION, 1993–2011 | NOVEMBER 2013 8

Comparing intimate and nonintimate violent victimization of females and males

This section presents aggregated estimates from 2002-11 and 

compares intimate and nonintimate victimization by sex. 

 Serious violence against females accounted for a similar 

percentage of intimate partner violence (35%) and 

nonintimate violence (34%) (table 7).

 A larger percentage of males experienced serious 

violence when victimized by an intimate (39%) than by a 

nonintimate (32%). 

 A larger percentage of females were physically attacked 

when victimized by an intimate partner (67%) than by a 

nonintimate offender (40%) . 

 A larger percentage of males were physically attacked 

when victimized by an intimate partner (65%) than by a 

nonintimate offender (40%).

 A larger percentage of females were threatened prior to 

a victimization by an intimate (52%) than a nonintimate 

(34%) offender.

 A larger percentage of males were threatened prior to a 

victimization by an nonintimate (39%) than a intimate 

(31%).

 A larger percentage of females faced an offender with a 

weapon when victimized by a nonintimate (20%) than by 

an intimate (18%). No statistically significant differences 

were detected in the percentage of male intimate and 

nonintimate victimizations involving weapons. 

 A larger percentage of females were injured when the 

offender was an intimate (50%) than a nonintimate (24%). 

 A larger percentage of males were injured when the 

offender was an intimate (44%) than a nonintimate (22%).

 A larger percentage of females suffered serious physical 

injuries when the offender was an intimate (13%) than a 

nonintimate (5%).

 A similar percentage of males suffered serious physical 

injuries whether the offender was an intimate (5%) or a 

nonintimate (4%).

 A larger percentage of females sought treatment for their 

injuries when victimized by an intimate partner (18%) than 

a nonintimate offender (10%).

 A similar percentage of males sought treatment for injuries 

when victimized by an intimate (11%) or a nonintimate 

(10%).

Table 7

Summary attributes of violent victimization, by victim’s sex and victim-offender relationship, 2002–2011

Female Male

Intimatea Nonintimateb Intimatea Nonintimateb

Serious violent crime 34.6% 33.7% 39.0% 32.1%

Attacks and threats

Victim was attacked 66.6% 40.3% 64.6% 40.1%

Victim was threatened before attack 51.8 33.6 31.4 39.4

Presence of weapon

Weapon present 17.6% 20.0% 27.0% 24.4%

Injury and medical treatment

Injured 49.7% 24.0% 43.5% 21.6%

Serious injury 13.0 5.0 5.4 3.9

Medical treatment 18.2 9.8 10.8 9.6

Note: Detailed attributes are presented in tables 1, 3, 4, 5, and 6. Standard errors are presented in appendix tables 5, 8, 11, 14, and 17. 

aIncludes former or current spouses, boyfriends, or girlfriends.

bIncludes relatives, friends, neighbors, acquaintances, and strangers. 

Source: Bureau of Justice Statistics, National Crime Victimization Survey, 2002–2011.
INTIMATE PARTNER VIOLENCE: ATTRIBUTES OF VICTIMIZATION, 1993–2011 | NOVEMBER 2013 9

Methodology 

The National Crime Victimization Survey (NCVS) is a data 

collection conducted by the U.S. Census Bureau for the 

Bureau of Justice Statistics (BJS). The NCVS is a self-report 

survey in which interviewed persons are asked about the 

number and characteristics of victimizations experienced 

during the past 6 months. The NCVS collects information 

on nonfatal personal crimes (rape or sexual assault, robbery, 

aggravated assault, and simple assault) and property crimes 

(burglary, larceny-theft, arson, motor vehicle theft, and 

other theft) both reported and not reported to police. In 

addition to providing annual level and change estimates 

on criminal victimization, the NCVS is the primary source 

of information on the nature of criminal victimization 

incidents. Survey respondents provide information about 

themselves (such as age, sex, race and ethnicity, marital 

status, education level, and income) and whether they 

experienced victimization. Information is collected for 

each victimization incident about the offender (such as age, 

race and ethnicity, sex, and victim-offender relationship), 

characteristics of the crime (including time and place of 

occurrence, use of weapons, nature of injury, and economic 

consequences), whether the crime was reported to police, 

reasons the crime was or was not reported, and experiences 

with the criminal justice system. 

The NCVS is administered to persons age 12 or older from 

a nationally representative sample of households in the 

United States. The NCVS defines a household as a group of 

members who all reside at a sampled address. Persons are 

considered household members when the sampled address is 

their usual place of residence at the time of the interview and 

when they have no usual place of residence elsewhere. Once 

selected, households remain in the sample for 3 years, and 

eligible persons in these households are interviewed every 

6 months for a total of seven interviews. New households 

rotate into the sample on an ongoing basis to replace 

outgoing households that have been in the sample for the 

3-year period. The sample includes persons living in group 

quarters, such as dormitories, rooming houses, and religious 

group dwellings, and excludes persons living in military 

barracks and institutional settings, such as correctional or 

hospital facilities, and the homeless. (For more detail, see the 

Survey Methodology for Criminal Victimization in the United 

States, 2008, NCJ 231173, BJS website, May 2011.) 

In 2011, about 143,120 persons age 12 or older from 79,800 

households across the country were interviewed during the 

year. The response rate was 88% of eligible individuals and 

90% of eligible households. Victimizations that occurred 

outside of the United States were excluded from this 

report. From 1993 to 2011, 291 (0.7%) of the total 43,805 

unweighted nonfatal violent victimizations occurred outside 

of the United States and were excluded from the analysis. 

Weighting adjustments for estimating personal 

victimization 

Estimates in this report use data from the 1993 to 2011 

NCVS data files weighted to produce annual estimates 

of victimization for persons age 12 or older living in U.S. 

households. Because the NCVS relies on a sample rather 

than a census of the entire U.S. population, weights are 

designed to inflate sample point estimates to known 

population totals and to compensate for survey nonresponse 

and other aspects of the sample design. 

The NCVS data files include both person and household 

weights. Household weights provide an estimate of the 

total U.S. household population. Person weights provide an 

estimate of the population represented by each person in the 

sample. Person weights are most frequently used to compute 

estimates of criminal victimizations of persons in the total 

population. Both household and person weights, after 

proper adjustment, are also used to form the denominator in 

calculations of crime rates. 

Victimization weights used in this analysis account for the 

number of persons present during an incident and for repeat 

victims of series incidents. The weight counts series incidents 

as the actual number of incidents reported by the victim, 

up to a maximum of 10 incidents. Series victimizations are 

similar in type but occur with such frequency that a victim 

is unable to recall each individual event or to describe each 

event in detail. Survey procedures allow NCVS interviewers 

to identify and classify these similar victimizations as series 

victimizations and to collect detailed information on only 

the most recent incident in the series. In 2011, about 3% 

of all victimizations were series incidents. Weighting series 

incidents as the number of incidents up to a maximum 

of 10 incidents produces more reliable estimates of crime 

levels, while the cap at 10 minimizes the effect of extreme 

outliers on the rates. Additional information on the series 

enumeration is detailed in Methods for Counting HighFrequency Repeat Victimizations in the National Crime 

Victimization Survey, NCJ 237308, BJS website, April 2012. 

Standard error computations 

When national estimates are derived from a sample, as 

is the case with the NCVS, caution must be taken when 

comparing one estimate to another estimate or when 

comparing estimates over time. Although one estimate may 

be larger than another, estimates based on a sample have 

some degree of sampling error. The sampling error of an 

estimate depends on several factors, including the amount 

of variation in the responses, the size of the sample, and the 

size of the subgroup for which the estimate is computed. 

When the sampling error around the estimates is taken into 

consideration, the estimates that appear different may, in 

fact, not be statistically different. 
INTIMATE PARTNER VIOLENCE: ATTRIBUTES OF VICTIMIZATION, 1993–2011 | NOVEMBER 2013 10

One measure of the sampling error associated with an 

estimate is the standard error. The standard error can vary 

from one estimate to the next. In general, for a given metric, 

an estimate with a small standard error provides a more 

reliable approximation of the true value than an estimate 

with a large standard error. Estimates with relatively large 

standard errors are associated with less precision and 

reliability and should be interpreted with caution. 

In order to generate standard errors around estimates 

from the NCVS, the Census Bureau produced generalized 

variance function (GVF) parameters for BJS. The GVFs take 

into account aspects of the NCVS complex sample design 

and represent the curve fitted to a selection of individual 

standard errors based on the Jackknife Repeated Replication 

technique. The GVF parameters were used to generate 

standard errors for each point estimate (such as counts, 

percentages, and rates) in the report. For average annual 

estimates, standard errors were based on the ratio of the 

sums of victimizations and respondents across years. 

In this report, BJS conducted tests to determine whether 

differences in estimated numbers and percentages were 

statistically significant once sampling error was taken into 

account. Using statistical programs developed specifically 

for the NCVS, all comparisons in the text were tested for 

significance. The primary test procedure used was Student’s 

t-statistic, which tests the difference between two sample 

estimates. To ensure that the observed differences between 

estimates were larger than might be expected due to 

sampling variation, BJS set the significance level at the 95% 

confidence level. 

Data users can use the estimates and the standard errors of 

the estimates provided in this report to generate a confidence 

interval around the estimate as a measure of the margin of 

error. The following example illustrates how standard errors 

can be used to generate confidence intervals: 

According to the NCVS, in 2011, the rate intimate 

partner violence against females was 4.7 victimizations 

per 1,000 females age 12 or older (see appendix table 

1). Using the GVFs, BJS determined that the estimate 

has a standard error of 0.32 (see appendix table 2). A 

confidence interval around the estimate was generated 

by multiplying the standard error by ±1.96 (the t-score 

of a normal, two-tailed distribution that excludes 2.5% at 

either end of the distribution). Therefore, the confidence 

interval around the 4.7 estimate from 2011 is 4.7 ± .63 

(0.32 X 1.96) or (4.07 to 5.33). In other words, if different 

samples using the same procedures were taken from 

the U.S. population in 2011, 95% of the time the rate of 

intimate partner victimization against females would fall 

between 4.07 and 5.33 per 1,000. 

In this report, BJS also calculated a coefficient of variation 

(CV) for all estimates, representing the ratio of the standard 

error to the estimate. CVs provide a measure of reliability 

and a means to compare the precision of estimates across 

measures with differing levels or metrics. In cases where 

the CV was greater than 50% or the unweighted sample had 

10 or fewer cases, the estimate was noted with a “!” symbol 

(interpret data with caution; estimate is based on 10 or fewer 

sample cases, or the coefficient of variation exceeds 50%). 

Many of the variables examined in this report may be related 

to one another and to other variables not included in the 

analyses. Complex relationships among variables were not 

fully explored in this report and warrant more extensive 

analysis. Readers are cautioned not to draw causal inferences 

based on the results presented. 

Intimate partner violence and crime types defined

As defined in the NCVS, intimate partner violence includes 

rape or sexual assault, robbery, aggravated assault, and 

simple assault (see definitions below) committed by an 

offender who is the victim’s current or former spouse, 

boyfriend, or girlfriend. For some victims, intimates are 

primarily restricted to boyfriends and girlfriends. Others 

may be inclined to perceive romantic relationships as friends 

or acquaintances rather than ascribing the level of intimacy 

associated with a boyfriend or girlfriend. Therefore, the 

characteristics of intimate partner violence as defined in this 

report may differ based on how the respondent perceives the 

relationship with the offender.

Crime types defined

Rape—Unlawful penetration of a person against the will of 

the victim, with use or threatened use of force, or attempting 

such an act. Includes psychological coercion and physical 

force. Forced sexual intercourse means vaginal, anal, or 

oral penetration by the offender. Also includes incidents 

where penetration is from a foreign object, such as a bottle. 

Includes male and female victims, and both heterosexual 

and same-sex rape. Attempted rape includes verbal threats 

of rape. (Rape and sexual assault are combined into one 

victimization measure.)

Robbery—The unlawful taking or attempted taking of 

property that is in the immediate possession of another, by 

force or threat of force, with or without a weapon, and with 

or without injury. 

Aggravated assault—An attack or attempted attack with a 

weapon, regardless of whether the victim is injured, or an 

attack without a weapon when serious injury results. 

Simple assault—An attack or attempted attack without 

a weapon that results in either no injury, minor injury 

(e.g., bruises, black eyes, cuts, scratches, or swelling) or 

an undetermined injury requiring less than 2 days of 

hospitalization
INTIMATE PARTNER VIOLENCE: ATTRIBUTES OF VICTIMIZATION, 1993–2011 | NOVEMBER 2013 11

Attacks, attempted attacks, and threats of harm

The NCVS used a two-part screening strategy. First, a 

screener was administered to a respondent, and if a potential 

crime was identified, a detailed incident form was then 

administered to the respondent to gather additional detail on 

the characteristics of the incident. The details gathered by the 

incident form were used in an algorithm that subsequently 

classified the event into specific crime types. 

During administration of the detailed incident form, 

respondents were asked a series of questions regarding 

attacks, attempted attacks, and threats of harm that they 

may have experienced during the crime. Respondents were 

first asked whether a physical attack occurred, and if so, 

the nature of the physical attack. For this report, response 

options for the type of attack in the NCVS were combined 

into similar categories of physical attack. See survey 

questions below.

Q. 24. Did the offender hit you, knock you down or 

actually attack you in any way? 

Yes

No

Q. 29a. How were you attacked?

Respondents who were attacked were asked if the offender 

threatened them prior to the attack: 

Q. 30a. Did the offender THREATEN to hurt you before 

you were actually attacked?

Yes

No

Other

Victims who were attacked were not subsequently asked 

detailed information regarding the type of threat that 

preceded the attack. In addition, it is not possible to 

ascertain from the survey whether the threat of harm 

immediately preceded the attack or whether the victim was 

threatened days, weeks, or even months earlier.

Victims who were not physically attacked were subsequently 

asked if the offender attempted to attack them or threatened 

them with harm. The victim was then asked to describe the 

nature of the attempted attack or threat. These victimizations 

are excluded from estimates of intimate partner violence 

involving physical attacks.

Methodological changes to the NCVS in 2006 

Methodological changes implemented in 2006 may have 

affected the crime estimates for that year to such an extent 

that they are not comparable to estimates from other years. 

Evaluation of 2007 and later data from the NCVS conducted 

by BJS and the Census Bureau found a high degree of 

confidence that estimates for 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, and 

2011 are consistent with and comparable to estimates 

for 2005 and previous years. For more information, see 

Criminal Victimization, 2006, NCJ 219413, BJS website, 

December 2007; Criminal Victimization, 2007, NCJ 224390, 

BJS website, December 2008; Criminal Victimization, 

2008, NCJ 227777, BJS website, September 2009; Criminal 

Victimization, 2009, NCJ 231327, BJS website, October 2010; 

Criminal Victimization, 2010, NCJ 235508, BJS website, 

September 2011; and Criminal Victimization, 2011, NCJ 

239437, BJS website, October 2012. 

Although caution is warranted when comparing data from 

2006 to other years, the combination of 2-year rolling 

averages and 10 years of aggregated data in this report 

diminishes the potential variation between 2006 and later 

years. Slight increases are observed when comparing 

averaged 2005–06 and 2006–07 estimates. However, these 

increases do not change the findings when the long-term 

trends are examined. The effect of 2006 methodological 

changes on the aggregated 2002 to 2011 analyses is less 

pronounced. In general, findings do not change significantly 

if the year 2006 is excluded from the analysis. The 2002 

to 2011 average annual number of intimate partner 

victimizations, attacks by an intimate partner, and injuries 

sustained during intimate partner violence were not 

significantly different from the annual averages when 2006 

data were excluded. 

NCVS type of attack

Combined physical 

attack categories

Raped

Tried to rape

Sexual assault other than rape 

 or attempted rape

Sexual violence

Shot

Shot at (but missed)

Hit with gun held in hand

Stabbed/cut with knife/sharp weapon

Attempted attack with weapon other 

 than gun/knife/sharp weapon

Shot at, stabbed, or hit with 

weapon

Hit by object (other than gun) held in hand

Hit by thrown object

Hit by object held in hand or 

thrown

Hit, slapped, knocked down Hit, slapped, or knocked down

Grabbed, held, tripped, jumped, pushed, etc. Grabbed, held, tripped, 

jumped, or pushed

Other—Specify Other types of attacks
INTIMATE PARTNER VIOLENCE: ATTRIBUTES OF VICTIMIZATION, 1993–2011 | NOVEMBER 2013 12

Appendix table 1

Number and rate of intimate partner violence, by victim's sex, 1993–2011

Female Male

Ratea Ratea

Year Population

Total intimate 

partner violence Overall

Serious 

violence 

Simple 

assault Population

Total intimate 

partner violence Overall

Serious 

violence

Simple 

assault

1994 109,437,100 1,766,700 16.1 5.9 10.3 102,584,300 303,460 3.0 1.1 1.9

1995 110,590,240 1,785,590 16.1 4.9 11.3 103,518,050 272,450 2.6 0.8 1.8

1996 111,660,070 1,676,990 15.0 4.2 10.8 104,497,420 240,280 2.3 0.9 1.4

1997 112,710,280 1,644,100 14.6 4.8 9.8 105,826,410 185,650 1.8 0.6 1.1

1998 113,762,940 1,499,130 13.2 4.2 8.9 107,097,100 202,720 1.9 0.6 1.3

1999 115,100,630 1,250,570 10.9 3.6 7.3 108,124,040 229,510 2.1 0.6 1.6

2000 116,451,730 974,160 8.4 2.7 5.7 109,234,760 173,190 1.6 0.3 1.3

2001 117,564,090 882,720 7.5 2.4 5.1 110,445,860 112,450 1.0 0.3 0.7

2002 118,743,930 889,740 7.5 2.5 5.0 111,658,350 120,350 1.1 0.5 0.6

2003 121,306,110 852,220 7.0 2.8 4.2 114,141,510 132,810 1.2 0.5 0.7

2004 123,740,880 861,380 7.0 2.9 4.0 116,763,970 174,620 1.5 0.5 1.0

2005 124,886,860 718,590 5.8 1.9 3.8 118,217,640 205,270 1.7 0.7 1.0

2006b 126,162,070 842,410 6.7 2.4 4.3 119,707,120 218,220 1.8 1.0 0.8

2007b 127,494,730 922,380 7.2 2.6 4.6 121,294,250 183,150 1.5 0.7 0.8

2008 128,696,840 847,700 6.6 2.3 4.3 122,596,860 156,900 1.3 0.5 0.8

2009 129,617,960 914,480 7.1 2.0 5.0 123,556,100 157,050 1.3 0.5 0.8

2010 130,519,420 775,650 5.9 1.6 4.3 124,514,350 130,890 1.1 0.4 0.7

2011 131,212,660 620,850 4.7 1.6 3.1 125,539,420 191,540 1.5 0.4 1.1

Note: Estimates based on 2-year rolling averages beginning in 1993. Serious violent crime includes rape or sexual assault, robbery, and aggravated assault. Intimates 

include current or former spouses, boyfriends, and girlfriends. See appendix table 2 for standard errors.

aRates calculated per 1,000 persons age 12 or older. 

bDue to methodological changes, use caution when comparing 2006 NCVS criminal vicitmization estimates to other years. See Criminal Victimization, 2007, NCJ 224390, 

BJS website, December 2008, for more information.

Source: Bureau of Justice Statistics, National Crime Victimization Survey, 1993–2011.

FBI’s Supplementary Homicide Reports (SHR) 

The homicide data in this report are from the FBI’s 

Supplementary Homicide Reports (SHR), which are a 

part of the Uniform Crime Reporting (UCR) program. 

Supplemental data about homicide incidents are submitted 

monthly with details on location, victim, and offender 

characteristics. These reports include information on the 

reporting agency and its residential population, county and 

Metropolitan Statistical Area (MSA) codes, geographical 

division, and population group; on the age, race, and 

sex of victims and offenders; and on the victim-offender 

relationship, weapon use, and circumstance of the crime. 

From 1993 to 2010, contributing agencies provided 

supplemental data for 282,009 (or 88.7%) of the estimated 

318,098 homicides.

Homicide includes murder and nonnegligent manslaughter, 

or the willful killing of one human being by another. This 

report excludes deaths caused by negligence, suicide, or 

accident; justifiable homicides; and attempts to murder. 

These homicide data are based solely on police investigation, 

as opposed to the determination of a court, medical 

examiner, coroner, jury, or other judicial body. Not all 

agencies that report offense information to the FBI also 

submit supplemental data on homicides. To compensate 

for nonreported homicides, BJS weighted the total number 

of homicide victims included in the SHR data to match the 

FBI’s state and national estimates of the total number of 

homicide victims. 
INTIMATE PARTNER VIOLENCE: ATTRIBUTES OF VICTIMIZATION, 1993–2011 | NOVEMBER 2013 13

Appendix table 2

Standard errors for appendix table 1: Number and rate of intimate partner violence, by victim's sex, 1993–2011

Female Male

Rate Rate

Year

Total intimate 

partner violence Overall Serious violence Simple assault

Total intimate 

partner violence Overall Serious violence Simple assault

1994 108,988 0.74 0.41 0.57 39,334 0.28 0.16 0.22

1995 95,835 0.64 0.32 0.52 32,366 0.23 0.12 0.19

1996 90,032 0.60 0.28 0.49 29,452 0.21 0.12 0.16

1997 98,113 0.64 0.33 0.51 28,156 0.19 0.11 0.15

1998 101,121 0.66 0.33 0.52 31,217 0.21 0.11 0.18

1999 94,193 0.62 0.32 0.48 34,518 0.24 0.11 0.20

2000 80,028 0.52 0.26 0.41 29,548 0.20 0.08 0.18

2001 74,539 0.47 0.24 0.37 22,879 0.15 0.08 0.12

2002 71,124 0.45 0.23 0.35 22,703 0.15 0.10 0.11

2003 68,689 0.43 0.25 0.31 24,033 0.15 0.10 0.11

2004 71,769 0.43 0.26 0.32 29,332 0.18 0.10 0.15

2005 69,359 0.41 0.22 0.33 34,551 0.21 0.13 0.16

2006 75,870 0.45 0.25 0.35 35,759 0.22 0.16 0.14

2007 79,727 0.47 0.26 0.36 31,926 0.19 0.13 0.13

2008 74,126 0.43 0.23 0.34 28,598 0.17 0.10 0.13

2009 81,508 0.47 0.23 0.39 30,352 0.18 0.11 0.14

2010 76,309 0.44 0.21 0.36 27,794 0.16 0.09 0.13

2011 56,551 0.32 0.17 0.25 28,925 0.17 0.08 0.14

Source: Bureau of Justice Statistics, National Crime Victimization Survey, 1993–2011.

Appendix table 3

Serious intimate partner violence against females, 

1993–2011

Total intimate 

partner violence

Percent

Year Total

Serious 

violence 

Simple 

assault

1994 1,766,700 100% 36.3 63.7

1995 1,785,590 100% 30.2 69.8

1996 1,676,990 100% 28.1 71.9

1997 1,644,100 100% 32.7 67.3

1998 1,499,130 100% 32.1 67.9

1999 1,250,570 100% 33.0 67.0

2000 974,160 100% 32.4 67.6

2001 882,720 100% 32.3 67.7

2002 889,740 100% 33.2 66.8

2003 852,220 100% 40.1 59.9

2004 861,380 100% 42.0 58.0

2005 718,590 100% 33.5 66.5

2006* 842,410 100% 35.7 64.3

2007* 922,380 100% 36.0 64.0

2008 847,700 100% 34.3 65.7

2009 914,480 100% 28.8 71.2

2010 775,650 100% 27.5 72.5

2011 620,850 100% 34.8 65.2

Note: Estimates based on 2-year rolling averages beginning in 1993. Serious 

violent crime includes rape or sexual assault, robbery, and aggravated assault. 

Intimates include current or former spouses, boyfriends, and girlfriends. See 

appendix table 4 for standard errors.

*Due to methodological changes, use caution when comparing 2006 NCVS 

criminal victimization estimates to other years. See Criminal Victimization, 2007, 

NCJ 224390, BJS website, December 2008, for more information. 

Source: Bureau of Justice Statistics, National Crime Victimization Survey, 

1993–2011.

Appendix table 4

Standard errors for appendix table 3: Serious intimate 

partner violence against females, 1993–2011

Total intimate 

Year partner violence Serious violence Simple assault

1994 108,988 1.89 1.94

1995 95,835 1.56 1.62

1996 90,032 1.52 1.59

1997 98,113 1.77 1.82

1998 101,121 1.95 2.02

1999 94,193 2.21 2.29

2000 80,028 2.45 2.53

2001 74,539 2.50 2.58

2002 71,124 2.40 2.47

2003 68,689 2.58 2.62

2004 71,769 2.71 2.74

2005 69,359 3.00 3.07

2006 75,870 2.85 2.90

2007 79,727 2.70 2.76

2008 74,126 2.69 2.76

2009 81,508 2.62 2.70

2010 76,309 2.81 2.92

2011 56,551 2.81 2.88

Source: Bureau of Justice Statistics, National Crime Victimization Survey, 

1993–2011.
INTIMATE PARTNER VIOLENCE: ATTRIBUTES OF VICTIMIZATION, 1993–2011 | NOVEMBER 2013 14

Appendix table 5

Standard errors for table 1: Violent victimization, by victim’s 

sex and victim-offender relationship, 2002–2011

Female Male

Intimate Nonintimate Intimate Nonintimate

Serious violent crime 1.07 0.67 2.22 0.57

Rape/sexual assault 0.64 0.37 0.47 0.10

Robbery 0.63 0.38 1.64 0.36

Aggravated assault 0.80 0.51 1.87 0.48

Simple assault 1.10 0.70 2.24 0.59

Average annual violent

 victimizations 56,298 101,917 24,782 125,566

~ Not applicable.

Source: Bureau of Justice Statistics, National Crime Victimization Survey, 2002–2011.

Appendix table 6

Physical attacks and threats in intimate partner violence 

against females, 1993–2011

Year

Total intimate 

partner violence

Percent 

attacked

Percent threatened 

before attacka

1994 1,766,700 69.9% 58.2%

1995 1,785,590 61.5 54.1

1996 1,676,990 60.5 47.9

1997 1,644,100 70.0 52.0

1998 1,499,130 68.4 54.6

1999 1,250,570 62.1 46.1

2000 974,160 64.1 38.8

2001 882,720 66.1 44.9

2002 889,740 68.0 51.5

2003 852,220 66.7 52.8

2004 861,380 67.4 42.4

2005 718,590 72.1 41.5

2006b 842,410 71.9 62.9

2007b 922,380 72.2 62.4

2008 847,700 66.4 54.2

2009 914,480 60.4 53.1

2010 775,650 63.1 50.1

2011 620,850 60.8 43.7

Note: Estimates based on 2-year rolling averages beginning in 1993. Intimate 

partner violence includes rape, sexual assault, robbery, aggravated assault, and 

simple assault committed by current or former spouses, boyfriends, or girlfriends. 

See appendix table 7 for standard errors.

aVictims are asked whether a physical attack occurred, and if so, the nature of the 

of the physical attack. Victims that were attacked are subsequently asked if the 

offender threatened them prior to the attack. 

bDue to methodological changes, use caution when comparing 2006 NCVS 

criminal vicitmization estimates to other years. See Criminal Victimization, 2007, 

NCJ 224390, BJS website, December 2008, for more information. 

Source: Bureau of Justice Statistics, National Crime Victimization Survey, 1993–2011.

Appendix table 7

Standard errors for appendix table 6: Physical attacks 

and threats in intimate partner violence against females, 

1993–2011

Year

Total intimate 

partner violence

Percent 

attacked

Percent threatened 

before attack

1994 108,988 1.86 1.98

1995 95,835 1.70 1.73

1996 90,032 1.71 1.73

1997 98,113 1.78 1.92

1998 101,121 2.01 2.13

1999 94,193 2.36 2.38

2000 80,028 2.58 2.57

2001 74,539 2.61 2.70

2002 71,124 2.45 2.60

2003 68,689 2.52 2.65

2004 71,769 2.61 2.71

2005 69,359 2.92 3.16

2006 75,870 2.73 2.92

2007 79,727 2.58 2.78

2008 74,126 2.75 2.88

2009 81,508 2.90 2.95

2010 76,309 3.14 3.23

2011 56,551 2.94 2.96

Source: Bureau of Justice Statistics, National Crime Victimization Survey, 

1993–2011.
INTIMATE PARTNER VIOLENCE: ATTRIBUTES OF VICTIMIZATION, 1993–2011 | NOVEMBER 2013 15

Appendix table 8

Standard errors for table 3: Type of physical attack in violent victimization, by victim’s sex and victim-offender relationship, 

2002–2011

Female Male

Intimate Nonintimate Intimate Nonintimate

Victim was physically attacked 1.09 0.70 2.20 0.61

Offender threatened victim before attacking 1.14 0.67 2.11 0.60

Type of attack

Sexual violence 0.59 0.29 0.40 0.05

Shot at, stabbed, or hit with weapon 0.40 0.16 1.22 0.18

Hit by object held in hand or thrown 0.48 0.26 1.78 0.23

Hit, slapped, or knocked down 1.13 0.57 2.26 0.53

Grabbed, held, tripped, jumped, or pushed 1.08 0.51 1.55 0.42

Other type of attack 0.51 0.19 1.07 0.18

Average annual violent victimizations 56,298 101,917 24,782 125,566

Source: Bureau of Justice Statistics, National Crime Victimization Survey, 2002–2011.

Appendix table 9

Presence of weapons in intimate partner violence against females, 1993–2011

Percent

Year

Total intimate 

partner violence Total Weapon No weapon

Did not know if 

offender had weapon

1994 1,766,700 100% 17.9 77.0 5.1

1995 1,785,590 100% 13.8 80.6 5.6

1996 1,676,990 100% 16.1 80.0 4.0

1997 1,644,100 100% 18.2 77.6 4.2

1998 1,499,130 100% 15.2 81.8 2.9

1999 1,250,570 100% 15.5 80.9 3.5

2000 974,160 100% 12.7 82.9 4.4

2001 882,720 100% 13.4 81.4 5.2

2002 889,740 100% 18.2 77.0 4.9

2003 852,220 100% 25.5 72.2 2.3 !

2004 861,380 100% 25.0 71.9 3.1 !

2005 718,590 100% 18.0 79.1 2.9 !

2006* 842,410 100% 13.4 83.6 3.0

2007* 922,380 100% 13.2 84.0 2.8

2008 847,700 100% 17.5 74.7 7.8 !

2009 914,480 100% 14.4 75.7 9.9

2010 775,650 100% 13.4 82.7 3.9 !

2011 620,850 100% 17.7 79.4 2.8

Note: Estimates based on 2-year rolling averages beginning in 1993. Intimate partner violence includes rape or sexual assault, robbery, aggravated assault, and simple 

assault committed by current or former spouses, boyfriends, and girlfriends. The weapon category also includes victimizations in which the respondent knew a weapon 

was present but did not know the type of weapon. See appendix table 10 for standard errors.

! Interpret data with caution; estimate based on 10 or fewer sample cases, or coefficient of variation is greater than 50%.

*Due to methodological changes, use caution when comparing 2006 NCVS criminal victimization estimates to other years. See Criminal Victimization, 2007, NCJ 224390, 

BJS website, December 2008, for more information. 

Source: Bureau of Justice Statistics, National Crime Victimization Survey, 1993–2011.
INTIMATE PARTNER VIOLENCE: ATTRIBUTES OF VICTIMIZATION, 1993–2011 | NOVEMBER 2013 16

Appendix table 10

Standard errors for appendix table 9: Presence of weapons 

in intimate partner violence against females, 1993–2011

Percent

Year

Total intimate 

partner violence Weapon No weapon

Did not know if 

offender had weapon

1994 108,988 1.46 1.71 0.80

1995 95,835 1.13 1.40 0.73

1996 90,032 1.22 1.42 0.62

1997 98,113 1.42 1.63 0.70

1998 101,121 1.45 1.69 0.64

1999 94,193 1.64 1.93 0.78

2000 80,028 1.67 2.05 1.00

2001 74,539 1.76 2.16 1.11

2002 71,124 1.92 2.22 1.02

2003 68,689 2.25 2.41 0.73

2004 71,769 2.33 2.51 0.89

2005 69,359 2.40 2.65 1.01

2006 75,870 1.97 2.26 0.94

2007 79,727 1.83 2.13 0.86

2008 74,126 2.11 2.54 1.45

2009 81,508 1.99 2.57 1.67

2010 76,309 2.09 2.49 1.15

2011 56,551 2.21 2.46 0.91

Source: Bureau of Justice Statistics, National Crime Victimization Survey, 

1993–2011.

Appendix table 11

Standard errors for table 4. Presence of weapons, by victim's 

sex and victim-offender relationship, 2002–2011

Female Male

Intimate Nonintimate Intimate Nonintimate

No weapon 0.96 0.66 2.08 0.60

Any weapon 0.84 0.55 2.01 0.52

Firearm 0.45 0.33 0.39 0.32

Knife 0.51 0.30 1.40 0.28

Other weapon 0.54 0.35 1.60 0.33

Did not know if offender

 had weapon 0.43% 0.34% 0.54% 0.31%

Average annual violent

 victimizations 56,298 101,917 24,782 125,566

~ Not applicable.

Source: Bureau of Justice Statistics, National Crime Victimization Survey, 

2002–2011.

Appendix table 12

Physical injury in intimate partner violence against females, 

1993–2011

Year

Total intimate 

partner violence

Percent

Total Not injured Any injury

1994 1,766,700 100% 43.1 56.5

1995 1,785,590 100% 51.6 48.0

1996 1,676,990 100% 55.0 45.0

1997 1,644,100 100% 47.0 52.9

1998 1,499,130 100% 47.7 52.2

1999 1,250,570 100% 52.5 47.4

2000 974,160 100% 51.6 48.2

2001 882,720 100% 49.3 50.6

2002 889,740 100% 48.6 51.3

2003 852,220 100% 47.0 53.0

2004 861,380 100% 45.5 54.5

2005 718,590 100% 47.6 52.4

2006* 842,410 100% 40.9 59.1

2007* 922,380 100% 43.0 56.9

2008 847,700 100% 54.9 44.8

2009 914,480 100% 57.9 42.0

2010 775,650 100% 56.2 43.8

2011 620,850 100% 57.6 42.4

Note: Estimates based on 2-year rolling averages beginning in 1993. Intimate 

partner violence includes rape or sexual assault, robbery, aggravated assault, 

and simple assault committed by current or former spouses, boyfriends, and 

girlfriends. Estimates include missing data on injuries ranging from 0.1% to 0.4%. 

See appendix table 13 for standard errors.

*Due to methodological changes, use caution when comparing 2006 NCVS 

criminal victimization estimates to other years. See Criminal Victimization, 2007, 

NCJ 224390, BJS website, December 2008, for more information.

Source: Bureau of Justice Statistics, National Crime Victimization Survey, 

1993–2011.

Appendix table 13

Standard errors for appendix table 12: Physical injury in 

intimate partner violence against females, 1993–2011

Year

Total intimate 

partner violence

Percent

Not injured Any injury

1994 108,988 1.96 1.99

1995 95,835 1.73 1.73

1996 90,032 1.74 1.72

1997 98,113 1.91 1.92

1998 101,121 2.13 2.14

1999 94,193 2.40 2.39

2000 80,028 2.67 2.66

2001 74,539 2.72 2.72

2002 71,124 2.59 2.59

2003 68,689 2.64 2.65

2004 71,769 2.74 2.76

2005 69,359 3.21 3.22

2006 75,870 2.93 2.97

2007 79,727 2.80 2.83

2008 74,126 2.88 2.85

2009 81,508 2.92 2.89

2010 76,309 3.21 3.18

2011 56,551 2.97 2.94

~ Not applicable.

Source: Bureau of Justice Statistics, National Crime Victimization Survey, 

1993–2011.
INTIMATE PARTNER VIOLENCE: ATTRIBUTES OF VICTIMIZATION, 1993–2011 | NOVEMBER 2013 17

Appendix table 14

Standard errors for Table 5: Physical injury, by victim’s sex and victim-offender relationship, 2002–2011

Female Male

Intimate Nonintimate Intimate Nonintimate

No injury 1.14 0.63 2.28 0.53

Any injury 1.14 0.60 2.26 0.49

Serious injury 0.73 0.28 1.00 0.21

Sexual violence 0.53 0.21 0.36 0.04

Gun shot, knife wounds 0.22 0.08 0.59 0.11

Internal injuries, unconciousness, broken bones 0.48 0.16 0.72 0.18

Bruises, cuts, or other minor injuries 1.13 0.56 2.24 0.47

Average annual violent victimizations 56,298 101,917 24,782 125,566

~Not applicable.

Source: Bureau of Justice Statistics, National Crime Victimization Survey, 2002–2011.

Appendix table 15

Medical treatment of female victims of intimate partner violence, 1993–2011

Total intimate 

partner violence

Type of treatment

Year Any injury Not treated Treated Formal treatmenta Informal treatmentb

1994 1,766,700 56.9% 31.8% 25.1% 11.6% 13.5%

1995 1,785,590 48.4 29.2 19.3 10.1 9.2

1996 1,676,990 45.0 28.0 16.9 7.7 9.2

1997 1,644,100 53.0 33.6 19.3 9.1 10.3

1998 1,499,130 52.3 34.3 18.0 8.3 9.7

1999 1,250,570 47.5 27.8 19.7 8.0 11.7

2000 974,160 48.4 27.1 21.3 6.0 15.3

2001 882,720 50.7 30.6 20.2 9.5 10.7

2002 889,740 51.4 29.5 21.9 15.6 6.3

2003 852,220 53.0 25.8 27.2 13.3 13.8

2004 861,380 54.5 29.1 25.4 8.3 17.0

2005 718,590 52.4 32.2 20.2 10.0 10.2

2006* 842,410 59.1 42.2 16.9 8.6 8.3

2007* 922,380 57.0 43.6 13.5 7.0 6.5

2008 847,700 45.1 31.5 13.6 8.6 5.0

2009 914,480 42.1 29.5 12.6 7.3 5.3

2010 775,650 43.8 28.6 15.2 9.8 5.4

2011 620,850 42.4 24.0 18.5 12.2 6.3

Note: Estimates based on 2-year rolling averages beginning in 1993. Intimate partner violence includes rape or sexual assault, robbery, aggravated assault, and simple 

assault committed by current or former spouses, boyfriends, and girlfriends. See appendix table 16 for standard errors.

*Due to methodological changes, use caution when comparing 2006 NCVS criminal victimization estimates to other years. See Criminal Victimization, 2007, NCJ 224390, 

BJS website, December 2008, for more information. 

aIncludes treatment at a medical office, clinic or health unit; stadium or park; and hospital setting.

bIncludes treatment at scene, home, neighbor’s or friend’s house; and other informal settings. 

Source: Bureau of Justice Statistics, National Crime Victimization Survey, 1993–2011.
INTIMATE PARTNER VIOLENCE: ATTRIBUTES OF VICTIMIZATION, 1993–2011 | NOVEMBER 2013 18

Appendix table 16

Standard errors for appendix table 15: Medical treatment of female victims of intimate partner violence, 1993–2011

Percent treated

Total intimate 

partner violence

Type of treatment

Year Any injury Not treated Treated Formal treatment Informal treatment

1994 108,988 1.99 1.82 1.68 1.20 1.29

1995 95,835 1.73 1.54 1.31 0.98 0.93

1996 90,032 1.72 1.52 1.24 0.86 0.94

1997 98,113 1.92 1.78 1.46 1.03 1.09

1998 101,121 2.14 1.99 1.56 1.09 1.17

1999 94,193 2.39 2.09 1.82 1.19 1.43

2000 80,028 2.66 2.31 2.10 1.16 1.82

2001 74,539 2.73 2.46 2.11 1.49 1.58

2002 71,124 2.59 2.31 2.07 1.80 1.16

2003 68,689 2.65 2.26 2.30 1.71 1.74

2004 71,769 2.76 2.46 2.35 1.44 2.00

2005 69,359 3.22 2.97 2.52 1.84 1.87

2006 75,870 2.97 2.95 2.17 1.60 1.57

2007 79,727 2.83 2.81 1.85 1.36 1.30

2008 74,126 2.86 2.63 1.89 1.52 1.17

2009 81,508 2.89 2.64 1.87 1.44 1.23

2010 76,309 3.18 2.85 2.21 1.81 1.34

2011 56,551 2.94 2.49 2.24 1.87 1.36

Source: Bureau of Justice Statistics, National Crime Victimization Survey, 1993–2011.

Appendix table 17

Standard errors for table 6: Medical treatment, by victim’s sex and victim-offender relationship, 2002–2011

Female Male

Intimate Nonintimate Intimate Nonintimate

Total violent victimizations resulting in injury 1.14 0.59 2.26 0.49

No treatment 1.04 0.47 2.13 0.37

Any treatment 0.85 0.40 1.38 0.34

At scene, home, neighbor’s or friend's house 0.59 0.24 1.05 0.20

Medical office, clinic, or health unit 0.25 0.17 0.18 0.11

Hospital setting 0.59 0.26 0.91 0.24

Another location 0.06 0.05 0.14 0.04

Average annual violent victimizations 56,298 101,917 24,782 125,566

Source: Bureau of Justice Statistics, National Crime Victimization Survey, 2002–2011.
Office of Justice Programs

Innovation • Partnerships • Safer Neighborhoods

www.ojp.usdoj.gov

The Bureau of Justice Statistics, located in the Office of Justice Programs, U.S. 

Department of Justice, collects, analyses, and disseminates statistical information on 

crime, criminal offenders, victims of crime, and the operation of justice systems at all 

levels of government. William J. Sabol is acting director. 

This report was written by Shannan Catalano. Jennifer Truman verified the report.

Vanessa Curto and Morgan Young edited the report. Barbara Quinn produced 

the report.

November 2013, NCJ 243300